Which buyers qualify for ABSD treatment under trade agreements?
Nationals and permanent residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, plus nationals of the United States, qualify for Singapore Citizen Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) treatment under the relevant trade agreements. This is not a blanket exemption: your residential property count and any joint buyer’s position still affect the assessment. United States permanent residence alone does not qualify you for this treatment.
TL;DR
The additional buyer stamp duty exemption countries are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United States.
IRAS grants qualifying buyers Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment, not an exemption on every residential purchase.
United States nationals qualify; United States permanent residents do not qualify through permanent residence alone.
Joint ownership and existing Singapore residential interests can change the ABSD outcome.
Which buyers qualify for ABSD treatment under trade agreements?
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) identifies the following qualifying groups in its guidance on ABSD remission under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The distinction is between nationality and permanent residence, not simply where you live or work.
Country | Nationals qualify | Permanent residents qualify | Main limitation |
Iceland | Yes | Yes | Existing residential property interests still matter |
Liechtenstein | Yes | Yes | Existing residential property interests still matter |
Norway | Yes | Yes | Existing residential property interests still matter |
Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Existing residential property interests still matter |
United States | Yes | No, not through permanent residence alone | Nationality is required for this route |
For help comparing a new-launch purchase with your ownership position, The Property Experts provides personal guidance on projects and the buying process.
There are 5 countries on this list. Permanent-resident status is a qualifying route for 4 countries; the United States is the 1 country where this route does not extend to permanent residents.
For a 2026 purchase, use IRAS’s current ABSD and FTA remission guidance as the authority. Have your conveyancing lawyer confirm the applicable treatment and supporting documents before you commit to the transaction.
Why this matters
The phrase additional buyer stamp duty exemption countries suggests that a passport automatically removes ABSD. That is not how the concession works. Qualifying buyers receive the same ABSD treatment as Singapore Citizens, which still distinguishes between a first residential property and subsequent residential properties.
A qualifying buyer purchasing a first Singapore residential property can receive the Singapore Citizen first-property ABSD treatment of 0%. That does not remove Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD), the separate duty charged on property acquisitions.
FTA eligibility changes your ABSD category; it does not remove every property tax or purchase restriction. This distinction matters before you compare projects, arrange financing or exercise an option.
Nationals of all five countries: citizenship is the qualifying route
If you are a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United States, nationality is the relevant qualifying status under this route. Your lawyer needs evidence of that status, rather than an assumption based on your address, employer or place of birth.
A passport is an obvious starting document, but ask your lawyer what IRAS requires for your circumstances. A citizenship application in progress is not the same as holding the qualifying nationality.
Best for: buyers who already hold a qualifying nationality and need their Singapore residential property count assessed correctly.
The benefit is access to Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment. The limitation is that eligibility does not settle the whole calculation: another property interest or a joint buyer can still produce an ABSD liability.
For your 2026 purchase file, keep identity documents consistent across the booking, financing and conveyancing records. Raise differences in names or citizenship details before signing rather than leaving them for the stamp-duty submission.
Permanent residents of four countries: residence status matters
Permanent residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can also qualify for Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment. This is a separate route from nationality, so you do not necessarily need to be a citizen of the country whose permanent-resident status you hold.
Do not confuse permanent residence with a work visa, student permission, temporary residence permit or a residential address. Living in Switzerland, for example, does not by itself establish that you hold Swiss permanent-resident status for the concession.
Best for: buyers who hold qualifying permanent-resident status in one of these four countries, even when their nationality is elsewhere.
The benefit is that qualifying permanent residents are included. The limitation is documentary: you need to establish the relevant status, not merely show that you have spent time in the country. Ask your lawyer to check the status and evidence against IRAS’s requirements before relying on the concession.
United States permanent residents: a green card alone is insufficient
United States nationals qualify for this FTA treatment, but United States permanent residents do not qualify through that status alone. A green card is not a substitute for the nationality requirement under the United States route.
This distinction is especially important if you have lived in the United States for years but retain another nationality. Your ordinary place of residence does not determine eligibility.
A United States permanent resident who separately holds a qualifying nationality or qualifying permanent-resident status elsewhere needs that separate basis assessed. The green card itself does not establish entitlement.
Best next step: identify the exact nationality or permanent-residence category you intend to rely on, then ask your lawyer to confirm it. Do not describe yourself simply as a US resident on a buying checklist and assume the tax outcome follows.
Why your ABSD outcome varies
Two buyers considering the same Singapore condominium can receive different ABSD assessments. The factors below explain why the country list is only the starting point.
Nationality: the United States route covers nationals, while the other listed countries also have a permanent-resident route.
Permanent-resident status: qualifying permanent residence is different from temporary permission to live or work abroad.
Property count: Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment distinguishes a first residential property from later residential purchases.
Joint buyers: each buyer’s profile matters; the highest applicable ABSD rate generally applies to a joint purchase.
Existing ownership interests: a partial residential interest can matter even when you do not own an entire home.
Other relief conditions: a separate remission has its own requirements and should not be assumed to follow from FTA eligibility.
For a 2026 assessment, give your lawyer the facts for every purchaser. A calculation based on one buyer’s passport while ignoring the co-buyer’s ownership position is incomplete.
How do you check eligibility before buying?
Use this sequence before you treat an ABSD estimate as part of your buying budget. It separates your qualifying status from the property-count and joint-purchase checks.
Confirm status. Identify the nationality or permanent-resident status supporting the FTA claim. Check the actual document, not an informal description of your residence.
List ownership. Disclose your Singapore residential property interests, including partial interests and jointly held homes. Flag inherited interests and unusual ownership arrangements for legal review.
Check co-buyers. Record every purchaser’s nationality, residence status and property interests. Do not assume one qualifying buyer’s treatment covers everyone.
Confirm treatment. Ask your conveyancing lawyer to check the applicable ABSD treatment, evidence and submission procedure against current IRAS guidance.
Review timing. Confirm what must happen before you sign, exercise or complete the relevant purchase documents. Do not leave the tax assessment until completion.
Keep the supporting evidence together with the written tax calculation. If a purchaser changes, an ownership interest changes or the transaction structure changes, ask for the assessment to be checked again.
Does qualifying mean your first property is tax-free?
0% ABSD is not the same as a tax-free purchase. A qualifying buyer with no existing Singapore residential property interest can receive Singapore Citizen first-property ABSD treatment, but BSD remains a separate assessment.
Your purchase budget also needs to account for financing and transaction expenses. Have the relevant professionals explain those separately rather than treating an ABSD concession as a complete cost estimate.
Keep the terms distinct when requesting advice: ask for the ABSD assessment, the BSD assessment and the other purchase expenses. A single headline figure without those components makes it harder to see what the concession actually changes.
Can you qualify when buying with a spouse?
5 qualifying countries do not create a household-wide exemption. For a joint purchase, your spouse’s profile and existing residential property interests also need assessment; the highest applicable ABSD rate generally applies.
Marriage-related remission is a separate question with separate conditions. Do not assume that marrying a qualifying national automatically transfers that person’s FTA status or guarantees relief on a joint purchase.
Ask your lawyer to assess the proposed ownership arrangement before you decide whose names appear on the purchase. Changing names is not merely an administrative choice: ownership, financing and future transactions all need consideration.
Does this treatment let you buy any residential property?
0% ABSD treatment does not grant unrestricted buying rights. Stamp duty and permission to purchase a particular property are separate issues.
Foreign ownership restrictions can apply to landed residential property. Executive condominiums also have distinct eligibility and ownership rules; these are a different housing category from ordinary private condominiums.
For a new launch, check the property category before comparing units. TOP means Temporary Occupation Permit, which concerns permission to occupy a completed development; it does not establish your tax eligibility or purchase eligibility.
What should you take to a project consultation?
Bring a clear buying brief rather than only a preferred location or unit size. Your brief should state who will buy, which qualifying status each person holds, existing Singapore residential interests and whether the home is for occupation or investment.
The Property Experts is best for first-time private property buyers seeking personal guidance on new-launch comparisons and the buying process. Use that guidance to compare projects, while your conveyancing lawyer confirms the legal and tax treatment.
For an investment purchase, assess the property independently of the concession. Rental income, vacancy, borrowing commitments and resale conditions affect the investment outcome; favourable ABSD treatment does not guarantee a return.
For a 2026 shortlist, request current project documents and check the expected TOP, unit layout and ownership category. Keep the tax assessment alongside the project comparison, not in place of it.
FAQ
Which countries qualify for Singapore ABSD treatment under trade agreements?
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United States are the five qualifying countries. Nationals and permanent residents of the first four qualify; the United States route covers nationals only.
Does a US green card qualify me for ABSD exemption?
A US green card does not qualify you for Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment through the United States FTA route. United States nationality is required for that route.
Do Swiss permanent residents qualify even without Swiss citizenship?
Swiss permanent residents are included in the qualifying group for Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment. Your lawyer should confirm the supporting evidence and your property-count assessment.
Is my first Singapore home free of ABSD if I qualify?
A qualifying buyer with no existing Singapore residential property interest can receive the Singapore Citizen first-property ABSD treatment of 0%. Joint purchasers need a separate assessment, and Buyer’s Stamp Duty still applies.
Does my qualifying passport cover my spouse too?
Your qualifying passport does not automatically give your spouse the same FTA treatment. Each joint buyer’s profile matters, and the highest applicable ABSD rate generally applies unless a separate relief changes the outcome.
Does owning part of another Singapore home matter?
A partial interest in another Singapore residential property can affect your ABSD property count. Disclose jointly owned and inherited interests to your conveyancing lawyer before relying on a first-property assessment.
Where should I check the rules for a 2026 purchase?
Check IRAS’s current ABSD and Free Trade Agreement remission guidance for a 2026 purchase. Ask your conveyancing lawyer to confirm eligibility, supporting documents and submission requirements before committing.
One last thing
Your passport answers only the eligibility question; it does not answer the entire tax question. A partial interest in another Singapore home or a different co-buyer can change the assessment without changing your nationality.
Before your next viewing, prepare your ownership details and ask your lawyer to confirm the ABSD position. If you want help comparing suitable new-launch projects and understanding the buying process, enquire with The Property Experts or arrange a viewing when you are ready.